Benedict Cumberbatch Fans Might Be Disappointed With The Emmys, But Not Because He Won't Win

The man with the most British name on planet Earth has been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Miniseries or Movie (what a mouthful). So, will Benedict Cumberbatch be at the 2017 Emmy Awards to possibly pick up a trophy for his role as Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock: The Lying Detective? This year's nomination marks the fourth for the actor as the brilliant and socially inept detective, so hopefully Cumberbatch make an appearance, although he was not present at last year's ceremony.

Whether or not he turns up, as they say across the pond, Cumberbatch was thrilled to be nominated. When the list of nominees was announced in July, the Sherlock star told Us Weekly, "In a year of such great television it's a privilege to be nominated and having seen my fellow nominees work just to be in their company is winning enough," he said. "Couldn't be happier for me and the show."

Cumberbatch is up against some heavy contenders: Ewan McGregor for Fargo, Geoffrey Rush for Genius, Riz Ahmed and John Turturro for The Night Of, and the inimitable Robert De Niro for The Wizard Of Lies. The Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Series or Movie category this year is proof that more and more big movie stars are crossing over into television roles, which includes Cumberbatch, who has appeared in huge blockbusters like Star Trek and The Hobbit.

But he really is best known and most beloved for the role as that ornery genius detective Sherlock Holmes, and his four Emmy nominations for playing the modern iteration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic character are proof positive. In 2016, Cumberbatch was also nominated in the same category for playing Sherlock in Sherlock: The Abominable Bride. The category ultimately went to Courtney B. Vance for his stellar performance in The People V. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story; however, The Abominable Bride did win the statue for Best Television Movie. This year, Cumberbatch is nominated for The Lying Detective, which is again nominated in the Best TV Movie category. The Emmys love them some quality British content!

It was quite a disappointment to fans when Cumberbatch and his lovely wife, Sophie Hunter, didn't attend the 2016 Emmys ceremony, but here's hoping this year is different. Cumberbatch wasn't the only one who didn't show last year, though; none of the Sherlock cast was in attendance at the Emmys in 2016. Possibly, because The Abominable Bride was a one-off television movie, not part of a full season of the series, which has quite the erratic releases. The Lying Detective, however, was the final episode of Series 4 which aired in January of 2017, so perhaps the Sherlock cast will attend Sunday's ceremony to celebrate a whole three-episode season of hard work.

In addition to his 2017 and 2016 nominations, Cumberbatch was also nominated in 2012 for Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia and in 2014 for Sherlock: His Last Vow. He won the Emmy in 2014, and no, he wasn't there to pick up his award. He did attend the show in 2012.

So don't be shy, Cumberbatch; show up to the Emmys, would you, and make all those Sherlock superfans happy. It's about time to throw them a bone, anyway, since they wait so patiently for new seasons of the show. It's still up in the air whether or not Series 5 will even exist. Attending or not, congratulations to Benedict Cumberbatch for his fourth Emmy nomination for playing such a brilliant Sherlock Holmes.